How often do I have to change my windshield wiper?

The windshield wipers are a fundamental part of our automobile so they require our attention so that they work properly. Many cleaners can be broken, bent, broken, worn or at first sight look good but they do a very bad job when it comes to cleaning allowing a lousy visibility that is quite uncomfortable to handle.

Taking into account that 90% of all management decisions are based on clear visibility, cleaners are an essential factor for this task. Especially in rainy or snowy season the windshield can get dirty and affect our vision so the cleaners should be in optimal conditions to help us remove all dirt.

When expired, the cleaners lose the flexibility to adapt to the shape of the windshield and therefore clean properly. They can develop a rubber layer (caused by the same wear) or a curvature that prevents direct contact with the windshield.

This usually happens to vehicles that are parked in the sun all day. The sun burns and hardens the rubber, then when they are activated, they scratch the windshield and do not adapt to the shape of the glass, which results in something annoying and dangerous.

Another factor that can affect the life of windshield wipers is cold. Freezing temperatures cause the rubber to harden and break, which increases the tendency for it to crack and split. The supports, with snow or ice, become clogged, which causes them not to exert adequate pressure on the cleaners. When the latter freeze they leave cracks when skating on the windshield.

Finally the hard work also affects the cleaners, the dust, the dirt of the road and even the insects that are impacted eliminate the edge that the windshield wiper needs to do its job well. When the cleaner loses its edge (which has a precision angle cut that maximizes the cleaning effect), the water stays under it and remains in the glass. The result is reduced visibility and poor cleaning.

There is no specific time to change the windshield wipers as it depends on many factors such as those mentioned above. Most experts say that they should be changed every six or twelve months for optimal performance and clear visibility. This is because the cleaners do not last forever.

Those that are made of natural rubber deteriorate faster while cleaners reinforced with halogen or synthetic material can last longer but in the end,  all require replacement since the sun, ozone, cold and use cause the rubber to deteriorate.